Mother of woman allegedly murdered by Irish man in Hungary marks six months since her death

BreakingNews.ie

10-05-2025

The mother of an American woman who was allegedly murdered by an Irish man in Hungary has paid tribute to her on the six-month anniversary of her death, admitting that her family misses her 'unbearably'.
Mackenzie Michalski (31), from Fredonia, New York, was on holiday in the Hungarian capital of Budapest and was last seen at a nightclub in the city in the early hours of Tuesday, November 5th, 2024, and was listed as missing by Budapest Police Headquarters later that day.
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A 37-year-old Irish man, who works in marketing, has allegedly admitted to killing Ms Michalski, a nurse practitioner from Fredonia, New York, accidentally after claiming they became intimate at a rented apartment while on holiday. He claims her death was accidental.
The arrested man, allegedly, informed police after his arrest that he attempted to conceal her body in a suitcase along with her handbag and credit card, which he transported her in the boot of his rental car to a marshy area in Szigliget in western Hungary.
The Metropolitan Court of Budapest extended his arrest until March 10th this year and have since had his detention increased by several more months while investigations continue.
Detectives have also said they found numerous alleged incriminating online searches on a computer and allege that the detained Irish suspect cleaned his apartment.
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In a social media post, Ms Michalski's mother, Jill, said the family is 'grateful' for all the 'fantastic memories we've shared (and) no one can take those away'.
Ms Burek Michalski added: 'Half a year, six months, 26 weeks (and) 181 days without you. Oh Kenzie, we miss you unbearably, we celebrate your short, amazing life that affected so many, we love all the signs that let us sense you're close.
'We know you are thrilled with all the ways you're being honored and remembered (and) we love you to infinity and beyond.'
A memorial service for the nurse was held last January on what would have been her 32nd birthday.
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György Magyar, the lawyer of the man suspected of murder, previously told 24.hu news in Hungary that what happened on the night in question was an 'accident' during consensual intimacy.
Ms Michalski, had travelled from Portland, Oregon in the US, and was last seen near Szimpla Kert, known as the party district in the city at around 10pm.
The young woman had been travelling throughout Europe with a female friend, and Hungary was their last stop. The two separated for the last night of their trip.
Ms Michalski's body was brought back to the US by her family in late November last year. The Fredonia native's family issued a new statement on social media saying that they believe the man suspected of killing her did it deliberately.
The Michalski family said the 'death was in no way accidental, despite claims to the contrary.'
The Michalskis have pointed out that they have been 'completely supported and cared for by the US Embassy, the FBI, Antea International Funeral Home, many translators, as well as countless people who reached out to offer services and love'.